“Salomé” (detail), oil on canvas, by Henri Regnault, 1870.
John the Baptist stands on the corner
of First and Shaw sporting
a pink cape and inline skates.
He holds a simple white sign: JESUS.
Scrawled letters circle
John’s black helmet,
thrice repeating the Messiah’s name:
JESUS JESUS JESUS.
John’s proclaiming
one greater than he
is again coming.
The Fresno P.D. sees it otherwise.
They say he’s disturbing the peace.
John says, “So did Jesus.”
They place him into the squad car,
a hand pressed gently on his head,
as if they’re blessing or healing him.
I’m left holding John’s dog on a leash.
I begin to wonder if I’m Jesus,
and now that I’ve arrived,
John can return to the house of Herod
to repeat his fate as Salome’s demand.
Maybe I’ve spent my whole life
waiting for this moment
to reveal myself in
a blazing cloud of fire.
But, for now, I’m standing here
on the corner of First and Shaw
holding John’s dog.
